NEIL Fairbrother and John Crawley talked each other through the nervous nineties and into a match-winning position against Sussex at Old Trafford.

The pair hit wonderful centuries in a 243-run stand for the third wicket to help Lancashire to 380-5 at the close.

And they aimed to extend their lead to more than 45O when they resumed this morning, knowing they would never have a better chance to chalk up a third Championship win in a row,

Fairbrother said: "We talked to each other all the time and I think we talked each other through to a hundred apiece, which was nice. "I missed out on a ton at Middlesex and that was going through my mind when I got to 90. But it was a great feeling to reach three figures.

"John is the best batsman in England right now. It's a bold statement, but I believe it's true - and he's so easy to bat with."

Fairbrother went on to hit 132, his century coming off 182 balls with 13 fours, before he gave his only chance of the innings and was caught by Keith Greenfield at backward point.

It was a bittersweet moment for Greenfield. for it was his costly mistake which let Crawley off the book earlier on. The England star, on nought, had edged the unlucky Mark Robinson. But Greenfield, at first slip, spilled the easy chance.

Crawley took advantage of his second life to make 112 off 199 balls with 15 fours before he edged behind.

"I've been out in the nineties a couple of times this season, so I was relieved to get the 100," he said. "Neil batted very well and I think we had the club's best session in a long. long time.

"It's put us in a very strong position and we should be able to go on and win the game from here."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.